DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
Table tennis is well on its way to becoming a major sport in the Deh Cho, if the turnout for the territorial championship was any measure to go by.

Table tennis players hit the floor at Deh Gah School on Jan. 28 as they fought to keep the balls balanced precariously on their racquets. Brian Liang, front left, joins Riis Schaub and Robert Heath on the floor. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

A total of 30 players from seven Northwest Territories communities gathered in Fort Providence for the tournament, held on Jan. 27 and 28 at the Deh Gah School gymnasium.

The tournament included players of all ages and all skill levels, with most going home with medals for their performance.

The most improved player awards went to David Sangris, who won silver in cadet boys and gold in open doubles, and Starr MacLean from Fort Resolution, who also took home bronze in girls cadet.

The Fair Play award went to Hay River's Zack Horton for cheering on his teammates and opponents.

Tournament facilitator Thorsten Gohl said the highlight of the tournament for him was seeing the wide turnout as well as the level of enthusiasm players had for the sport. Out of the 30 players, 21 were youth.

"We finished (Saturday) at 3 or 4 p.m., and the kids wanted to keep on playing. I couldn't believe it," he said.

He hopes to channel that passion and draw out more players next time.

"At this point, they want to challenge each other - and this is what we need: kids coming back, playing games and challenging themselves."

Table Tennis North's Jeremy Kielstra, who won gold in men's open and open doubles, agreed.

"It's good to have kids from all the different communities," he said. "All the smiles - it was good to see. We had a bunch who weren't planning on coming and just dropped in last night."

Although the games wrapped up a day early, competition was fierce. Yellowknife player Shirley Zhang, who took gold in women's open, said the drive down to Fort Providence was worth it for how much fun she had.

She played doubles with Zachary Matheson, a seven-year-old Grade 2 student from Yellowknife.

"That was my favourite part of the tournament. We had a great time," she said.

"I'm so happy I won a medal. It's a great experience."

Mathison stole the show by taking home four medals: bronze in open double, gold in boys cadet, gold in hopes boys and bronze in junior doubles.

He said he's been playing table tennis for a year and a half.

"Meeting new people is the best part, and the game is fun," he said.

"I did really well in some of my games, and it feels good to win medals."